Jun 25 → Jun 29 · South Tyrol, Italy
Dolomites 5-Day Car-Camping Road Trip
Five days of car camping, big hikes, and mountain highs across the South Tyrol Dolomites — from the turquoise shores of Lago di Sorapis and the WWI tunnels of Tre Cime to a ridgeline party above Val Gardena and a final lap of Lago di Braies.
Miha Rek
@miharek · creator's guide
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5
DAYS
35
STOPS
268 km
ROUTE
11h 11m
TRAVEL
Flying fromUnited States·
Useful for this trip
1
Arrival at Lago di Misurina
1 stops
Drive in, settle by the lake, and get an early night before the hiking begins.
Lago di Misurina
Auronzo di Cadore
Arrived late afternoon and parked near the pizzeria — a low-key first night car-camping beside the lake before the Sorapis hike the next morning.
2
Lago di Sorapis hike & sleeping at Passo Giau
5 stops
A full day on the trail to one of the Dolomites' most photogenic lakes, ending with a car-camping night at a high mountain pass.
Parking Lago Di Sorapis
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Parked here for a flat €10 for the whole day — a convenient and affordable base for the Sorapis trailhead.
1 km · 2m
HIKE
Lago di Sorapis
13.6 km · 539 m↑ · 5h 36m
↑ 1937 m
↓ 1735 m
hike
Lago Di Sorapis
Cortina d'Ampezzo
The high point of the hike, with sweeping views down to the turquoise lake. A hut nearby apparently had a bear — keep your eyes open.
hike
21 km · 24m
Passo Giau
San Vito di Cadore
Second night sleeping in the car, parked at one of the most scenic passes in the Dolomites. Hard to beat waking up to those views.
3
Tre Cime loop, ferrata & WWI tunnels
13 stops
Drive north to hike the iconic Tre Cime circuit, crawl through WWI tunnels and take in sweeping views of the Cadini di Misurina.
Parking
Auronzo di Cadore
Pre-booked parking weeks ahead for €40 — well worth it. The alternative is a public bus from Misurina, which gets very crowded. Booking in advance gives you a stress-free start to a big day.
0 km · 1m
HIKE
Tre Cime loop with Monte Paterno ferrata
10.9 km · 630 m↑ · 6h 22m
↑ 2658 m
↓ 2175 m
hike
First Sight Of The Peaks
Dobbiaco
Your first proper view of the three iconic peaks rising above the plateau — a moment that makes the drive worthwhile.
hike
Start Of Monte Paterno Ferrata
Auronzo di Cadore
Start of the Monte Paterno ferrata — an easy via ferrata that winds through genuine WWI tunnels carved into the rock. Gear up here with helmets and climbing kit for the best views of the peaks from the summit.
hike
Viewpoint
Auronzo di Cadore
hike
Viewpoint
Sesto
hike
Dreizinnenhütte Rifugio Antonio Locatelli - S. Innerkofler
Dobbiaco
Classic mountain hut right beneath the peaks — a well-earned lunch stop mid-loop.
hike
hike
0 km · 1m
HIKE
Cadini di Misurina
3.6 km · 172 m↑ · 1h 27m
↑ 2364 m
↓ 2265 m
hike
Cadini Di Misurina Viewpoint
Auronzo di Cadore
hike
57 km · 42m
Passo Sella
Selva di Val Gardena
Last night sleeping in the car, perched at Passo Sella with the Sassolungo massif on the doorstep.
4
Seceda ridgeline, Val Gardena & mountain party
15 stops
Ride the cable car up to Seceda, hike the ridgeline above Urtijei and catch drone views of the Sassolungo massif at golden hour.
Rifugio Friedrich August
Campitello di Fassa
Start the day right with the famous krapfen at Rifugio Friedrich August — a beloved local tradition before heading up to Seceda.
16 km · 19m
Parking
Urtijëi
Drove from Passo Sella and ended up at this parking lot after others were full. Costs around €5 per hour, so factor that into your budget.
2 km · 4m
GONDOLA
Ortisei - Furnes
4.5 km · 1151 m↑ · ~21m
0 km · 5m
Panorama Seceda
Villnöß
The dramatic jagged ridgeline of Seceda is one of the Dolomites' most photographed panoramas. The gondola costs €76 per person return — steep, but the views justify it.
1 km · 7m
Sofie
Val Gardena
Lunch on the mountain at Baita Sofie, right on the Seceda plateau with panoramic views.
0 km · 1m
CABLE CAR
Furnes - Seceda
4.5 km · 1151 m↓ · ~21m
1 km · 12m
Piscina Mar Dolomit
Kastelruth
Wound down the day with a swim — hotel guests get free entry, a nice perk after a big day on the mountain.
2 km · 4m
FUNICULAR
Standseilbahn Raschötz - Funicolare Rasciesa
2.2 km · 779 m↑ · ~10m
Chalet Resciesa Ortisei
Ortisei
An unforgettable end to the trip: a house party organised by cava.sound at a mountain chalet, with some of the best views in the Dolomites as the backdrop. Highly recommended if you can catch an event here.
0 km · 1m
FUNICULAR
Standseilbahn Raschötz - Funicolare Rasciesa
2.2 km · 793 m↓ · ~10m
1 km · 19m
Hotel Garni August
Kastelruth
A lovely hotel with great views over Ortisei — a comfortable final night after days of car camping.
5
Lago di Braies & the drive home
1 stops
Final morning at the iconic emerald lake of Lago di Braies, then a relaxed drive back through Kastelruth.
Lago di Braies
Braies
A perfect final stop: an easy circular walk around the emerald-green lake, ringed by sheer Dolomite walls. Parking is around €3 per hour. Go early to beat the crowds.
